Method and apparatus for making closures



Nov. 30, 1954 H. G. SWARR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOSURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 HOWARD G. 5 WARR W 0 292.5 A 20.55 mw/ mzoifim v 29:5 m zoFEm N zoEim F F: .5. G F: c F: F: t 3 mm vm w m m m A] m 2 w Q 1 m mm Q 9 2 2 mm v z m on Q 2 mm mm mm no ow 9 mm mm wk 3 mm mm mm a E 2 mo mm mv mm aw mm mm 0m 3 a mm 5 album;

H. G. SWARR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOSURES Nov. 30, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 w w @a u. 5 M 2, :4. m 92 6 36 EM 4 in n H ML 2 6 I H 4 8 9 a 2 m w STATION 5 STATION 4 2,695,583 Patented Nov. 30, 1954 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CLOSURES Howard G. Swarr, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 14, 1949, Serial No. 76,261 13 Claims. (Cl. 11380) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making closures and is concerned primarily with a fabrication of metal closures for containers. The invention is particularly applicable to the assembly of a sealing gasket with a metal shell in the fabrication of a side seal type of closure.

Side seal closures have been used, particularly in the food packaging industry, for a number of years; and, in most instances, the closures have been formed with a sleeve type rubber composition gasket assembled with the metal shell, the metal shell being provided with a head at the lower end of the skirt which engages one end of the gasket and holds it in position. The equipment for fabricating this type of closure generally includes a beading roll arrangement effective for curling the lower edge of the closure skirt into a bead to grip the gasket. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in properly locating the gasket with respect to the shell and in maintaining the gasket in proper position during curling of the bead. Ring type gaskets have not been extensive 1y used, although they have been recently proposed and possess advantages over the usual sleeve type gasket. It is not believed to be feasible to use ring type gaskets in the conventional assembly equipment now available and used in the fabrication of closures using sleeve type gaskets.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus alilrdumethod for assembling ring type gaskets and metal 5 e s.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for fabricating closures, including a ring type gasket and a metal shell by a punch and curling die operation as contrasted with a bead rolling assembly operation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for closure manufacture in which the gasket locking operation may be effected by the single stroke of a press, simplifying the assembly method and reducing the capital investment in assembly machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for severing the lower edge of the closure shell to facilitate the subsequent assembly op- I eration in a punch and curling die device.

An important additional object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus in which the assembly operation may be formed wholly mechanically with the sealing gasket supported in fixed position with respect to the closure shell during the heading operation.

According to the present invention, the gasket is positioned upon a circular support and is held as a frustum of a hollow cone, with the walls of the gasket directed downwardly and outwardly and with the gasket in a predetermined position on the support. A metal shell is positioned over the support with the gasket engaging the shell in such position that upon the formation of a bead on the lower edge of the shell the gasket will be locked into the desired final position with respect to the shell. The shell and gasket are thus fixed in a desired relationship and are then assembled and permanently joined together by the application of pressure to the shell in a generally axial direction against a curved forming surface effective for turning the lower edge of the shell into a bead which grips the gasket.

Thls pressure application is preferably effected in a 80 punch and die, in which the die includes a curved portioi effective for turning the lower edge of the shell into a ead.

Preferably, the skirt of the shell is trimmed and in the trnnming operation the lower edge adjacent the line of severance is bent inwardly toward the axis of the shell. This has been found to materially facilitate the formation of a proper bead by a single stroke of a punch and die mechanism.

The following description is given of a preferred em: bodiment of both method and apparatus, illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a developed view showing various fabrication operations performed in the practice of the invention;

Figure 2 is a generally diagrammatic view showing the operating stations of Figure 1, and including the cross head arrangement in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the gasket positioning station of the machine of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the metal sheillzpositioning station of the machine of Figures 1 an p Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the crimping station of the machine of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 but to a smaller scale and showing in more detail the crimping head station of the machine of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a unique device for trimming the metal shell;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detail of the trimming device of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a trimmed metal shell used in the fabrication of a closure in the practice of the invention; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of a completely assembled closure made by the practice of this invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the machine is preferably a rotary dial assembly device adapted. to be intermittently rotated to bring each of a group of assembly units into operating stations positioned along the path of travel of the units. In Figure 2, the device is shown as including eight assembly units and six operating stations, two stations being available for the performance of optional operations. At operating station 2, an inspection device is provided to determine if the various assembly units presented sequentially at station 2 are in proper condition for the reception of a sealing gasket and metal shell for assembly at subsequent stations, the assembly dial rotating in the direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 2. At station 3, a sealing gasket is fed to the assembly machine and positioned in the assembly unit. As station 4, the gasket applied in station 3 is located in proper position upon its support, and at station 5 a closure shell is positioned on the support over the liner. There are two stations adjacent to station 5 which may be used for performing incidental operations, if desired. In Figure 1, these stations have been omitted, but theyare shown in Figure 2. At station 6, the shell is crimped at its terminal edge into a bead which grips the sealing gasket, and at station 7 the completed closure is extracted from the assembly unit.

cone. The recess as shown in Figure 3 extends circumferentially of the support and is inclined downwardly and inwardly at an'angle of about 45 to the horizontal and then outwardly and downwardly at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal. The depth of the inwardly and downwardly directed portion is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the gasket to be assembled to prevent the completed closure from binding so tightly to the support as to prevent removal of the closure without damage. It will also be observed that the diameter of the support above the recess is less than the diameter below the recess. The reduced diameter is required to facilitate removal of the finished closure from the holder. The holder 8 includes a hollow stem 11, and is provided with air vents 12 and 13 to permit the escape of air from within the metal closure ment', of the support 8' by engagement with the lower end. of' the. dieholder 14'.

Each assembly unit also includes ber 18 which. is fixed to the, table an upper table member 19 which also the rotary dial. The curling. die 20, as. shown in, Figure 3', leading. into a substantially cylindrical: portion.

a. curling die' memshellinto ahead, in. a manner to be described. The die holder. 14. has a. flange 23 which overlies an inwardly directed flange 24. of. the curling die 18 and: properly locates the curlingdie. 18$ and fixes it with respect to. the table. 15; Each. curling, die 18' is annularly recessed at. 25. to be. received withinan opening in the table. 19. Thedie 18 is. slotted, as indicated'at' 26'and27, in order to avoid" the entrapment of air by providing adequateair relief. for the support 8, as it moves to a. lowered posi tion within the. curling die.

As,w-ill.be clear fromFigure. 1, each operating station includesa support: S'andf a curlingdie 18, as. specifically described above, These-partsare mounted. in thetables 15'and. 19 which constitute the dial. of. the. machine. The dial is driven by any suitable mechanism. for imparting intermittent. motion. thereto torbring. the assembly units into the various operating stations1 positioned above the dialandalongthe-pathof traveljoflthediah The stems of the.suppor.ts 8 ride. on. acam C. which. is fixed; on a stationary part of'the machine below the assembly dial and:is. effective. for. imparting. a .desired raising and lowering motion, tothe. supports.

At. operating. station 2.there is provided. an inspection device, the purpose of. which. is toinsure that each sup.- portSpresented. at. that stationis. in conditionto receive a: sealing gasket. for-assembly= with a. metal closure. shell insubsequent operating stations. and.to stop-the machine. in the event. thesupport 8.has,a.completedi closure. posi tioned' thereonor is .otherwisenot. inproper condition. to receive a gasket. At. this. station, the, support 8. is in loweredposition.withitstop flush Withthe upper surface of.the table19; The inspectiondevice shown in Figure-lincludes.antoperati'ngrplunger 2.8:which istmovable with: in a. bearing support 29. attached to a. crosshead: H: on the machine.which;is:reciproeable in a vertical. direction; heingxrnounted on. vertically reciprocable posts,P,.all as shownin dotted: lines in. Figure 2..

The crosshead?- Ha has been.eliminated. from Figure. l to more' clearly show the essential. featuresof the present. invention. The. crosshead arrangement, and. its operating mechanismwhich; is synchronized with the 1 step wise: movement of the-assembly dialimaybeiof. any-conventional-form. The-method. ot-the; present invention may be. practiced. with. many differenttypesof: assembly ma-. chines.although therehas heenchosen for illustration a dial type, machine. A punchpress=type of-.assembly mew chine may also be used; Insofar, as the apparatus of the present invention is; concerned, it is-related. to the assemblytools with.any, suitable mechanism for moving the, tools relative to one anothen toefiect. assembly..

Reciprocation of the crosshead-H brings the inspection device; into-inspecting position. The. device includes. an inspecting probe 30- providedv on the. plunger 28. and adapted to" be received. within. the hollow. stem 11; of eachag-asketrholderr 8- as it. ispresentedtat stationZ. A returnspring 31. is positioned between the bearingsupport 29 andan adjusta-ble collar. 32 whichisclamped to the. plunger 28 bya; locktscrew 33. The plunger 28 is threaded. at 34 and a limiting nut 35. and lock nut. 36 arev provided to limitthe downward movement. of the plunger- 28 with respectto the bearing support 29 which the spring. 31 urges. A- conical switch actuator 37 is threaded-onto.theplunger28, and-.a switch 38. is mounted uponthe crosshead of: the-machine in position to be engagedby' the.-- actuator 37 in. the event the: probe 3.0 is not; free; toenter the opening; in the hollow stem 11 ofi.the,-.support 8;, aswwouldoeeur in the event a .shell. or completely assembled closure were positioned on the respect to thetable- 15? and is inlet into forms part of. 18* has a tapered throat 2,1 which terminates in' an annular. recess 22 adapted to turn the terminal edge of a closure.

support. In such event, the probe 30 upon coming int engagement with an obstruction will cause the plunger 28 to be displaced, sliding in the bearing support 29, and the actuator 37 will be elevated into engagement with the switch 38, shutting down the operation of the machine. In the event the support 8 is clear as it comes into operating station 2, the probe 30 will enter the opening in the stem 11 and. the. switch. 38. will not be actuated, and the machine-.will continue its intermittent motion and will move to station 3 where a sealing gasket is' applied to. the support 8s The specific apparatus for. feeding the sealing gaskets to the supports as they are intermittently passed through station 3-. is diagrammatically. shown in Figures 1 and 2 wherein the gasket 10 is positioned in such manner that it will be engaged by. the; support 8- as it moves in an elevated position above table 19, in the direction of the arrow,,shown in Figure l, extracting a gasket from the feedingmechanism andpositioning it over the support 8. The specific feeding apparatus constitutes nopart" of the, present invention. Thegasket feeding device may beanyoneofa number'of difterent designs, or the gaskets may bepositioned on thesupports by a hand operation,

althoughit is not preferred. The diameter-of the sup-- port 8 adjacent itstop is slightly-greater than theinner diameter" of the gasket 10 and, therefore, thegasket is stretched to a slight extent. port adj acentthe top portion- 39t-thereofk Upon the next indexed movement of' the machine; the support: with a gasket-positioned thereon isbrought into operating station-4; where the gasket is properly located in the recess; 93 The cam.C elevates the holder to its desired position. At this stationthere is also provided an inspection'device-which is. efiective'for shutting down the machine inthe event'thegasket does notassume its proper'position, two gasketsare inadvertently-positioned onthes-upport, or other'obstruction prevents the proper movement of'the positioning mechanism; The device at station-4-includes-a" gasket posit'oning head-40 (Figures 1 and. 3) which ismounted. upon a plunger 41 which is carried by a bearing, support 4-2- also attached to the crosshead H of the machine and adapted: to be intermittentlyraised and lowered to bring the positioning head 40 into and out of operation.

Thehead'40iis shown" in detailin Figured. It includes a cylindrical portion 43 adapted to surround the support 8. The wall 44 of the head 40 is provided adjacent its lower'edge with an inclined surface 45 which is adapted to engage the gasket 10 and slide. along the upper cylindricalsurface 39. of thesupport 8- and bring the gasket intoposition within'the recess 9, with the gasket disposed as a frustum of a hollow cone,.as shown: in the drawing. Downward movement" of the head 40 is limited by engagement of theinner surface'46 of the head with the topsurrace. of the support. 8, and downward movement of the support-8 is prevented byengagement of its stem 11 withactuating cam C The inspection device. at station 4 is. similar to the inspection device at station, 2. It includes the plunger. 41 whichis urged by a. spring .48 into a.predetermined.posi tion with respect to bearing support 42 fixed to the crosshead H ofv the machine. Downward movement of the plunger 41 is limited by anut 49', locked in a position by a lock. nut.v 50'. A switch actuator 51 is threaded onto the plunger 41 andis engageable with a switch 52 fixed tothe machine crosshead. In the event. the gasket does not move to its proper position or the supportbe otherwise obstructed, theactuator 51 will be elevated and will come into engagement with switch 52, and this will shut down themachine.

After proper positioning'ofthe gasket 10 on the support 8 as indicated in Figure 3, the head 40 is raised by movement of the crosshead'l-I and the assembly unit at station- 4' is now moved into station 5 where a metal shell is disposedover the support and the gasket. The camv C is contoured so as to lower the support 8 as it comes intooperating station 5;. as shown in. Figure 1. Referringnow to'Figure2, metal-shells are delivered by a conveyor 53 to a star wheel54which is rotated in a stepwise manner in the direction, of the arrow, shown in Figure 2.. Thisstar wheel 54 is effective for intermittently delivering a; metal shell to eachv support 8 as it arrives; at station. 5. A reciprocating head 55- (Figure gasket and support, with the metal shell lying in enand firmlyengages the sup-- gagement with the top of the support 8. The head 55 is mounted upon a plunger 57 which is provided with a spring 58 and operates \"ithin a bearing support attached to the crosshead H in the same manner as the head 40 at station 4.

The metal shell 56 is shown in Figure 9 and includes a top 59, a substantially cylindrical skirt portion 60 exending from the top 59, an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion 61 and a substantially cylindrical portion 62 extending to a terminal edge 63. The tapered throat 20 of the curling die 18 facilitates the entrance of the shell into the curling die with the lower cylindrical portion 62 of the skirt of the shell embraced by the die in the substantially cylindrical portion 21 which leads into the bead-forming portion 22 of the curling die. It will be observed that the positioning of the shell 56 at station brings the downwardly inclined portion 61 of the shell into engagement with the gasket 10, causing the same to assume a position in engagement with the inclined wall of the recess 9. This will position of the gasket in Figure 3 with its position in Figure 4.

With the shell and gasket properly positioned, the head 55 is elevated and the unit brought into operating station 6. This may be removed from station 5, as shown in Figure 2, by two stations where other operations may be performed, or station 6 may be positioned contiguous to station 5, although this would reduce the number of operating units in the assembly dial from eight to six. It is preferred to have the curling operation performed at station 6 or the station immediately preceding it, for these stations are aligned with the main portion of the crosshead H between the posts P. t

In station 6, the terminal edge 63 of the shell is turned inwardly, upwardly, and preferably outwardly into a rounded bead, as shown at 64 in Figure 5, to grip the gasket and firmly lock it in position with respect to the shell 56. The cam C is provided with an opening at station 6 (Figure l), and a spring-urged plunger 65 is positioned in the opening and adapted to yieldingly resist downward movement of the support 8 during the crimping operation. At station 6, a crimping punch is provided which is shown in Figure 6 as well as in Figure 5. It includes a bearing support 66 attached to the crosshead H of the machine so as to be raised and lowered to bring the curling punch into cooperative relationship with the curling die to effect the formation of the bead on the metal shell to grip the gasket. A punch holder 68 (Figure 6) is received within the bearing support 66 of the crosshead H and is adjustably fixed thereon by locking nuts 69 and 70, one positioned above and one below the bearing support 66, as shown in Figure 6. The curling punch 71 is attached to the holder 68 by the machine screws 72. A stripper 73 is positioned within the punch 71 and is normally urged to the position shown in Figure 6 by a spring 74. A bushing 75 is threaded into the punch holder 68, and a'threaded end 76 of the stripper 73 passes through the bushing and is held in position by a nut 77 and a lock nut 78 which are effective for adjustably positioning the stripper 73 with respect to the curling punch 71.

As shown in Figure 6, the curling punch 71 has an outer cylindrical surface 79 which is complementary to the cylindrical surface 21 of the curling die 18. The inner surface of the curling punch is contoured at 80 to correspond to the contour of the metal shell, including an upper supporting surface 81. An outwardly flared portion 82 on the punch 71 corresponds to the flared portion 61 of the metal shell, shown in Figure 9. The flared portion 82 joins the cylindrical portion 79 at a relatively sharp edge 83. As the unit enters station 6, the parts will be in the general position shown in Figure 4, but the head will, of course, not be present. The lower cylindrical portion 62 of the shell will be disposed within the cylindrical portion 21 of the curling die 18, and the terminal edge 63 of the shell will be facing the curved annular bead-forming surface 22 of the curling die. As the crosshead H is lowered, the stripper 73 at station 6 (Figure 5) will engage the head portion 59 of the shell 56, holding it in engagement with the upper surface of the support 8. As downward motion of the crosshead continues, the stripper 73 will be displaced within the curling die 18, and the curling die surfaces 80, 81, and .82 will come into position with the metal shell and will support it against deformation during the beading operation which be observed by comparing the follows, as further downward movement of the crosshead is eflected. The terminal edge 63 of the shell is forced into the groove 22 and is curled first inwardly, then upwardly, and then slightly outwardly into a rounded bead; and, as this action is effected, the support 8 will depress the plunger 65 against the action of its cushioning spring until the punching die assumes the position shown in Figure 5. There it will be observed that the support 8 has been depressed to a position where the gasket 10 has been removed from its retaining recess 9 and the bead 64 has been turned from the lower cylindrical portion 62 of the metal shell.

Upon elevation of the crosshead, the curling punch 71 will be withdrawn from within the curling: die 18, and the stripper 73 will cause the completed closure to remain in position on the support 8.

The unit then moves to station 7 (Figure 1) where the completed closure is extracted from the holder. The cam C is contoured so as to elevate the support 8 to its uppermost position, and the extractor arrangement 85 attached to the crosshead H is brought under the head of the closure and a lifting motion is effected upon elevation of the crosshead, stripping the closure from the support. This extractor may take any one of a number of forms or the closures may be removed by hand, if desired.. The extractor, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

The beading operation is facilitated and a superior article is produced if the cylindrical portion 62 of the metal shell is of a substantially uniform height. In addition, improved results are achieved if the terminal edge 63 of the shell is bent slightly radially inwardly. Both of these results can be achieved by trimming the slkirtdof the shell with the apparatus shown in Figures The trimming device includes a rotary supporting head 86 and a rotating cutter head 87. The shell 56 is shown in trimmed condition in Figure 7. A rotating pressure pad 88 presses the shell into position and clamps it on the supporting head 86. The supporting head 86 includes a cutting ring 89 which is adapted to cooperate with a cutting ring 90 on the cutting head 87. The apparatus described is conventional except in the following respect. A novel cutting ring construction 89 is employed, which is shown to enlarged scale in Figure 8. It will be observed that the cutting ring 89 is provided with a tapered portion 91 which extends about the circumference of the cutting ring 89, and the shearing edge 92 of the cutting ring 89 is disposed in the terminal edge of the inclined surface. The angle of inclination with respect to the axis of the ring may be about 30. The normal position of the cylindrical portion 62 of the metal shell is shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. As the cut-- ting rings 89 and 90 are brought into severing relationship, the shell is deformed and its terminal edge 63 is directed radially inwardly to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 8, and as cutting is effected by rotation of the members 86 and 87, complete severance of the lower edge of the shell is effected and deformation of the terminal edge is complete and uniform about the entire periphery of the shell.

By deforming the shell adjacent the terminal edge, the curling of a bead by a simple punch and die operation is facilitated and a round, uniform bead is obtained.

A completed closure is shown in Figure 10. It will be observed that the lower cylindrical portion 62 has been formed into the bead 64 and that the gasket 10 is firmly clamped by the terminal edge of the bead 64 and the inclined surface 61 of the metal shell. The gasket 10 is biased from its normally flat condition and is held as the frustum of a hollow cone.

While I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the same is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a method of making closures andthe like including a sealing gasket and a metal shell having a top and a depending skirt with the terminal edge of the skirt formed into an inwardly directed bead gripping the sealing gasket, the steps comprising: supporting a sealing gasket disposed as the frustum of a hollow cone with the lower edge thereof free for the reception of a bead,

positioning a metal shell having, a circular top, a sub;

stantially cylindrical portion depending: from the.- top, an inclined portion extending, outwardly from, the: substantially cylindrical: portion, and a terminalportion which is substantially cylindrical and depends from the inclined portion and extends over said supported gasket with the lower edge of said gasket in engagement with the inclinedportion of the shell, turning the terminal portion inwardly, axially, and outwardly into a bead clamping said gasket against said inclined portion of the shell, and removing the assembled closure from the support.

: 2. In a method of making closures and the like including a sealing gasket and a metal shell having a top and 21. depending skirt with the terminal edge of the skirt formed into an inwardly directed bead gripping the sealing gasket, the steps comprising: supporting a flat ring gasket in a biased condition with its flat faces disposed as thefrustum' of a hollow cone, with the upper edge of the gasket supported against displacement and with the lower edgeof the gasket unsupported and unobstructed, fixing a closure shell having a circular top, a substantially cylindrical portion depending from the top, an inclined portion extending outwardly from the substantially cylindrical portion, and a terminal portion which is substantially cylindrical in predetermined relationship with respect' to said gasket with the lower edge of the gasket lying: in contact with the inner surface of the closure skirt below the circular top thereof, applying axial pressure to said shell with the terminal portion of said shell in engagement with a forming surface to turn said terminalportion into a the lower edge of the gasket in contact with the inner surface of the closure skirt during bead formation, and removing the assembled closure from the support.

3. In a method of making side seal closures from a shell having a circular top, a substantially cylindrical portion depending from the top, an outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending from said cylindrical portion, and a substantially cylindrical terminal portion depending from the inclined portion by fixing a ringtype sealing gasket in said shell with the lower edge of the gasket disposed against the inclined portion of the shell by an inwardly and upwardly directed bead formed of the terminal portion of the shell, the steps comprising: severing the terminal portion of said shell and simultaneously bending the portion adjacent the severed edge radially inwardly, followed by the steps of claim 10.

4. In a method of making side seal closures from a shell having a circular top, a substantially cylindrical portion depending from the top, and outwardly and downwardly inclined portion extending from said cylindrical portion, and a substantially cylindrical terminal portion depending from the inclined portion by fixing a" ring type sealing gasket in said shell with the lower edge of the gasket disposed against the inclined portion of the shell by an inwardly and upwardly directed bead formed of the terminal portion of the shell, the steps comprising: severing the terminal portion of said shell and simultaneously bending the portion adjacent the severed edge radially inwardly, followed by the steps of claim 11.

S; In an apparatus for assembly of a ringtypegasket to a closure shell by formation of an inturned be'ad which grips'thegasket: a gasket support-for holding a gasket in an inclined position and disposed as the frustum of a hollow cone, said support including a downwardly inclined annular wall surface in the periphery thereof below the top defining a recess for positioning said gasket on the outer surface of said gasket support in the recited relationship and with the free end of said gasket projecting beyond the" support, means for holding a shell over said gasket on said support, and means for forming a bead on the closure shell engaging the free end' of the gasket positioned onsaid support.

6. In a closure assembly apparatus, the combination'of: a curling punch, a curling die, a sealing ring support disposed withinthe curling die, said ring support including a downwardly inclined annular wall surface in the periphery thereof below the top defining a recess for positioning a resilient sealing ring on the outer surface of 'said ring support as the frustum of a hollow cone with its free end projecting beyond the support, a clamping surface on the ring support for positioning a metal shell to which the sealing ring is to be assembled, and a-clam'p'ing surface'on the curling punch for cooperating'with the clampingsurface ofthe ring support, said, punch and die being relatively movable' to 'eifect curling of 'the terminal edgeof the bead engaging said gasket, maintaining closure shellinto locking. engagement with the freeendof the sealing-ring and said ring support being retractible upon relative movement of said punch-and die to clamp said shell at saidclamping surfaces during curling.

7. In an apparatus for assembly of a ring type gasket to a closure shell by formation of an inturned bead which grips the basket: a circular gasket support, said support including a downwardly inclined annular wall' surfacein the periphery thereof below the top defining a recess for positioning a resilient sealing gasket on the outer surface of said gasket support as the frustum of a hollow conewith its free end projecting beyond the support, said support also including a shell-supporting surface above said recess, a curling die surrounding said support and adapted to receive the edge of the shell and formaninwardly and upwardly directed bead thereon, and punch means engageable with said shell to press-the same into engagement withthe shell-supporting surface and having a surface complementary'to the outer surface of the top and a major portion of the skirt of the shell, said-punch and die being relatively movable to thrust the edge of the shell into'the curling die to form a gasket gripping bead thereon engaging the freeend of said gasket and said support being retractible with respect to said curling die.

8. In an apparatus for assembly of a ringtypegasket to a closure shell byformation of an inturned bead which grips the gasket: a cylindrical gasket support, said support including a downwardly inclined annular wall surface in the periphery below the top defining a recess for positioning a resilient sealing gasket on the outer surface of said gasket support as the frustum of a hollow cone and in an outwardly and downwardly biased condition with its free end projecting beyond the support, said sup port being movable axially, a curling die surrounding the gasket support, said die having a bead-forming surface thereon and a substantially cylindrical surface thereabove, and a curling punch having an outer cylindrical surface complementary to the cylindrical surface of the curling die and having aninner surface complementary to the outer surface of the shell to be assembled, said punch and die being relatively movable and said support being relatively movable with respect to said die.

9. In a closure assembly device: a cylindrical gasket support, said support having an annular recess in the periphery thereof below the top of the support for the reception of a ring type sealing gasket, said recess including an i'nclinedsupporting' wall for holding a gasket in a position with its fiat faces disposed as a frustum of a hollow cone, and a gasket positioning member having a hollow cylindrical lower portion complementary to the'upper portion of the cylindrical gasket support and an outwardly and downwardly inclined annular surface constituting the terminal edge of said positioning member for engagement with a gasket disposed on said support to move the same to a position within said recess and in said inclined POSltlOIL 10. In a method of making closures and the like from a normally flat ring sealing gasket and a metal shell having a top and a depending skirt, said skirt including a sub stantially cylindrical portion depending from the top, an inclined portion extending outwardly from the substan tially cylindrical portion, and a terminal portion which is substantially cylindrical and depends from the inclined portion, the steps comprising: positioning said ring sealing gasket within a recess on the outer periphery of a circular support with the flat faces of the gasket projecting outwardly away'from the support and with one edge of the gasket free for the reception of a bead, disposing said metal shell over said support and gasket with theterminal portionof the skirt of the shell lying below said gasket and with the free edge of the gasket in engagement with the inclinedportion of the shell, turning the terminal portionof the skirt into an inwardly and upwardly directed bead gripping the Hat faces of said sealing gasket positioned on said support to clamp the same against the inclined portion of the skirt of the shell and to remove the edge of the gasketfrom within said recess, and removing the assembled closure from thesup'port.

11. In a method of making closures and the, like from a normally flat ring sealing gasket and ametal shell having a top and a depending skirt, said skirt including a substantially cylindrical-f portion depending from the top, an inclined portion extending outwardly from the substantiallycylindr-ical portion, and aterminal portion which is substantially cylindrical and depends from the inclined portion, the steps comprising: gasket disposed as the frustum of edge thereof free for reception of a bead, positioning said metal shell over said supported gasket with the terminal portion of the skirt of the shell lying below said gasket, turning the terminal portion of the skirt inwardly, axially, and outwardly into a bead engaging the supported gasket to clamp the same against the inclined portion of the skirt of the shell, and removing the assembled closure from the support.

12. A curling die assembly comprising: a curling die member, a support slideable with respect to the die member, said support having a cylindrical periphery with a downwardly inclined annular wall surface defining a recess formed therein for the reception of a normally flat annular sealing ring disposed in biased position and held in said position by the walls of the recess, and means for holding a closure shell to be operated upon by said die member in a fixed position on said slideable support.

13. In a closure assembly device: a punch; a complementary curling die; a gasket support slideable within the curling die, said support including an inclined supporting wall defining a gasket-holding recess for supporting a gasket as a frustum of a hollow cone with its free end projecting beyond the support during assembly with a metal shell, the diameter of said support at the top of said recess being less than the inner diameter of the gasket in assembled position whereby, upon assembly by head formation by said curling die, the gasket is withdrawn from said recess; and means on said punch for holding a closure shell having a circular top, a substantially cylinsupporting said sealing a hollow cone with one drical portion depending from the top, downwardly inclined portion extending from said cylindrical portion, and a substantially cylindrical terminal portion depending from the inclined portion in position during formation of a bead by said curling die on said terminal portion of the closure skirt, which bead clamps an outwardly and said gasket against the inclined side wall of said closure shell.

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